Briefcase with reinforced edge structure



Jan. 31, 1961 L. STEIN 2,969,822

BRIEFCASE WITH REINFORCED EDGE STRUCTURE Filed Feb. 15, 1958 BRIEFCASE WITH REINFORCED EDGE STRUCTURE Leo Stein, 1401 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago 7, Ill.

Filed Feb. 13, 1958, Ser. No. 715,075

2 Claims. (Cl. 1501.6)

The present invention relates to improvements in briefcases and other luggage items wherein the principal burden of weight of the luggage item and contents rests upon lower edges of wall panels, and more particularly concerns improvements in the edge structure of such luggage items.

It has heretofore been proposed, as in my Patent No. 2,487,951, issued November 15, 1949, to provide a generally U-shaped plastic strip having a T-shaped crosssection for affording reinforcement and supporting edging for luggage seams, more particularly along the exposed edges of wall panels of the luggage items such as briefcases. Such a reinforcing edging has been found quite useful and advantageous commercially.

Among the many advantages that have been established for this sort of edging resides in maintaining the reinforced edge off of the supporting surface which may frequently be damp but the dampness is insulated against by the moisture impervious plastic edge member. This prevents insidious moisture induced deterioration of the material of the luggage member especially at the seams and more particularly the stitching by which the seam is secured.

It has been found, however, that in briefcases and more especially briefcases of the multiple gusset, expansible type, the contents often depress the bottom wall down to at least the level of the bottom of the edge reinforcing plastic strips on the side walls so that such bottom wall is subject to absorbing moisture from a damp supporting surface.

An important object of the present invention is to provide improvements in reinforced edge structures for luggage whereby greater assurance is attained against touching of the bottom of the reinforced edge luggage against a supporting surface and more particularly a damp supporting surface.

Another object of the invention is to provide plastic edge reinforcing means with novel supporting and spacer structure.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved plastic edge reinforcing structure which is prefabricated to maintain a luggage assembly in an improved shape relationship whereby to avoid strains upon certain Wall portions of the luggage and to improve and maintain an improved appearance of the luggage.

Other objects, features and advantages of the p sent invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an item of luggage and more particularly a briefcase embodying features of the invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary end edge elevational view of the briefcase of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional detail view taken substantially on the line IIIIII of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of one of the U- shaped plastic edge reinforcing members embodying features of the invention; and

Figure 5 is an edge elevational view of the reinforcing edge member of Figure 4 as the same is seen looking toward the right-hand end of the member.

In the briefcase shown in Figure l by way of example of an item of luggage to which the present invention is especially adaptable, opposite sirrfilar side walls 7 made of any suitable material for this purpose such as leather, synthetic leather, plastic material are connected together at the opposite ends and bottom of the case by a generally bellows type gusset structure generally designated 8. At its top, the case has a conventional top opening pivoted frame structure 9 provided with a handle 10, and a releasable latch 11 holds the case closed.

Attached in reinforcing, protective relation to and providing the edge of each of the side wall panels 7 of the case is a reinforcing edging strip 12. In a preferred form, each of the reinforcing strips 12 is of generally U-shape, and formed from a moldable plastic material of form sustaining characteristics. By reason of the U-shape of the strip, it is adapted to be disposed along the lower edge of the associated case side wall 7 and has for this purpose a lower edge portion 13 providing the base of the U, while upstanding arm portions 14 are provided to reinforcingly and protectively engage the end edges of the associated panel 7.

Cross-sectionally, the reinforcing strip 12 is of generally T-shape with preferably a generally half round body of a width substantially equal to the thickness of the marginal assembly or edge to be protected, and providing the head of the T-shape with a thin attachment leg flange 15 directed toward the inside of the U of the strip frame 12 to facilitate attachment to the associated case margin. As best seen in Figure 3, the leg flange 15 is of ample width to be secured by means such as stitching 17 adjacent to its distal margin to the inner side of the associated ease wall panel 7, while additional securing means such as a row of stitching 18 located closer to the body of the strip secures the material of the gusset structure 8 to the leg flange 15, with the leg flange concealingly thus engaged between the case side panel and gusset portions.

In a highly desirable form, the U-shaped reinforcing strip frame 12 is molded in one piece directly in the U- shape and with the corner portions of the flange leg 15 at juncture of the base and arm portions 13 and 14 of the frame solid continuation of the base and leg portions of the flange leg whereby to afiord substantial reinforcement at the corners of the frame highly resistive of breakage or cracking even in cold weather or under substantial abuse, so that the corners of the case are maintained against dog earmg.

In addition, in order to assist in maintaining the shape of the upper portions of the side panels 7, the reinforcing strip frame 12 is preformed on the upper end portions of the upstanding arms 14 with aligned curved-in shape predetermining integral respective sections 19 (Figs. 1, 4 and 5). When the side wall panels 7 are secured to the respective U-shaped reinforcing frames 12, the upper end portions of the panels are curved corresponding to the curvature of the frame arm sections 19, which, due to the preformed curvature thereof hold the panel to such curvature and thus afford in the upper portion of the case a desirable predetermined shouldered spacing relationship between the opposed separable side wall panels. This is a desirable shape maintaining feature of the case and affords a more balanced arrangement especially under Patented Jan. 31, 1961 In order to afiord a finished, complementary relationship of the extremities of the upper end sections 19 relative to the adjacent pivoted respective elements of the mouth frame structure 9, flattened terminal ends 20 are p-referablyprovided on the respective sections 1-9 substantially parallel to the principal extents or lengths of the reinforcing frame arms 14, as best seen in Figures 4 and 5.

In order to improve the standing stability of the edge reinforcement, increase the standing height of the bottom edge portion 13 of the edge reinforcement and thereby increase the spacing of the bottom of the case from a supporting surface, as well as to afford additional reinforcement in the bottom portion 13 of the reinforcing strip, it'is provided with a plurality of lugs or cleats 21 in each instance. As best seen in Figures 1 and 4, the cleats 21 are elongated with the length of the bottom portion 13 whereby to afford a substantial length supporting base surface on each of the cleats. At each lower corner the cleats are rounded oil so as to present blunt corners which will avoid catching on irregularities on a support ing surface over which the case may be slid in moving the same, such as when pushing it out of the way or into a more convenient location in use. The substantial length of each of the cleats assures substantial reinforcing value in the associated portion of the reinforcing strip.

As best seen in Figures 2, 3 and 5, each of the cleats 21 is preferably of a width equal to the width of the body portion of the reinforcing strip and thus not only provides a supporting base of substantial width but also affords in each instance lateral protective buffer for the lower or base length 13 of the reinforcing strip. By the substantial downward projection below the lower edge of the main body of the strip portion 13, of the projections or cleats 21 there is attained a substantially greater spacing of the lower portions of the case from a supporting surface S (Fig. 2) than would be aflorded by the body portion alone of the lower base section 13 of the reinforcing strip. Thus the general dimensions of the strip frame base portion can be maintained within desirable economical proportions and light weight while attaining the benefits of increased elevation derived from the cleats 21. Furthermore, the desirable resilient flexibility of the reinforcing strip is preserved by having the cleats 21 of only limited though functionally substantial length.

In a briefcase or similar size luggage of other types, a pair of the cleats 21 located adjacent to but spaced from the respective corners of the U-shaped reinforcing frame 12 will serve adequately. On larger sizes of luggage additional ones of the cleats may be used. In all instances, of course, the cleats are molded integrally in one piece with the reinforcing strip.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a carrying case having substantially coextensive side walls with expansible gusset-type connecting wall portions seam-secured marginally to the side walls, a

hinged top frame structure attached to the upper margins of the side walls and to said connecting gusset wall structure and arranged to be pivotally opened, and molded form-sustaining plastic U-s'haped reinforcing edge strip frame members of generally T-shaped cross-section with a body portion providing a generally T-head of the section in each instance, extending in reinforcing and pro tective relation over the edges defining the seams and with a leg flange of the T-shape secured in the seams in each instance, each of said stn'p frames having a base portion along the lower edges of the side walls and a pair of upstanding arm portions respectively along upright edges of said side walls, the upper sections of the respective arm portions being preformed into curved-in form-sustaining shape directed toward said hinged top frame and normally acting to maintain the upper portions of the side walls in corresponding curved shape condition and predisposing the top of each of the side walls toward a closed position. 2. In a carrying case having substantially coextensive side walls with expansible gusset-type connecting wall portions seam-secured marginally to the side walls, a hinged top frame structure attached to the upper margins of the side walls and to said connecting gusset wall structure and arranged to be pivotally opened, and molded form-sustaining plastic U-shaped reinforcing edge strip frame members of generally T-shaped cross-section with a body portion providing a generally T-head of the section in each instance, extending in reinforcing and protective relation over the edges defining the seams and with a leg flange of the T-shape secured in the seams in each instance, each of said strip frames having a base portion along the lower edges of the side walls and a pair of upstanding arm portions respectively along upright edges of said side walls, the upper sections of the respective arm portions being preformed into curved-in formsustaining shape directed toward said hinged top frame and normally acting to maintain the upper portions of the side walls in corresponding curved shape condition and predisposing the top of each of the side walls toward a closed position, said base portions of the strip frames having integrally molded therewith, along predetermined limited portions thereof, and spaced from but adjacent to the opposite ends of the base portions, downwardly projecting supporting and reinforcing spacer cleats maintaining the base portions and the bottom of the case in substantial spaced relation to a supporting surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,471,612 Freeman May 31, 1949 2,474,003 Lifton June 21, 1949 2,487,951 Stein Nov. 15, 1949 2,684,136 Wheary July 20, 1954 2,779,371 Klehr Jan. 29, 1957 2,781,809 Wolf Feb. 19, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 682,109 Great Britain Nov. 5, 1952 163,246 Australia June 7, 1955 

